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Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) to unknown [incomplete]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02713 Author/Creator: Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph manuscript Date: circa 1866 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20.5 x 12.6 cm. Order a Copy

Welles, United States Secretary of the Navy, writes to an unknown recipient regarding the suffrage and governmental representation of freed enslaved people. States "But Slavery has been abolished ... not by the voluntary act of the States in which it existed, but by the events of the War, and it is now proposed by those who have overthrown 'the institution' in these states to deprive them their due ... representation according to population unless the blacks are enfranchised." Only page three of this document survives.

Welles, who in 1856 helped establish The Hartford Evening Press (a Connecticut newspaper), was known for his opposition to slavery.

[draft]
But slavery has been abolished by [struck: the events of the war,] not by the voluntary act of the States in which it existed, but by the events of the war, and it is now proposed by those who have [struck: emancipated the slaves] overthrown "the institution" in these states to deprive them of [struck: the three fifths which they] [struck: illegible] [inserted: their due] representation [struck: of any] according to population unless the blacks are enfranchised. The rule it is true is to be made applicable to all the states, and is a method by which the central power attempts to coerce & control the States in a matter which is reserved for their own action.

Without dwelling on the question of Negro suffrage which lies at the root of this movement I am not in favor of rash, inconsiderate

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

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